Beaufort to host dragon boat races in July

Beaufort will host its first DragonBoat Race Day on July 20, the opening day of the 58th annual Beaufort Water Festival at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park seawall.

Organizers invite individuals to form or sponsor one of the 24-person teams that will race in 250-meter heats of four boats throughout the afternoon. More than 500 competitors are expected to participate.

Dragon boats are 41-foot canoes with brightly-painted dragon heads and tails. Twenty teammates sit two-by-two and paddle in sync to the beat of their drummer, who is seated in the bow facing the team.

Life jackets, paddles and a professional guide will be provided for all entrants. In-water practice sessions will be held for all teams July 15-19 with an emphasis on technique and safety. Teams should have 24 members: 20 paddlers, 1 drummer and 3 alternates, all 14 and older.

Beaufort has its own year-old race team, DragonBoat Beaufort, made up of cancer survivors and their supporters. Proceeds from the event will benefit the team's cancer survivor mission and the Beaufort Water Festival.

DragonBoat Beaufort is an all volunteer, nonprofit organization with a two-prong mission: To provide cancer survivors the opportunity to heal and regain physical and psychological strength through dragon boating, and to make grants to local cancer patients with needs they are not able to meet.

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